Mariner&#39;s compass.



narran srarns rari-ENT FREDERICK ALBERT STRASSWEG, OF EVANSVlLLE, lNDlANA.

NIARENERS COMPASS..

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application flied July 10,1906. Serial'llo. 325,465.

lTo all 'wl/torn' t ntay concern:

Be it known that l, FREDERICK ALBERT ing had therein to the accompanying draw- This invention relates to mariners come passes adapted especially for use with submarine vessels. l

As the ordinary compass is not reliable in f operation when submerged, .my invention provides a tower to be carried by a submarine boat having a compass supported thereon above the surface of the water, in combination with means for indicating the movements of the compass-needle upon asuitable annunciator on board the boat, said means being under control of an operator on the vessel.

The construction of the improved compass will be fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, and its features of novelty will be defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure. 1 is a view in perspective of a compass embodying the invention` Fig. 2 is-a central vertical section of the saine, and Fig. 3 isa view invr perspective,

on an enlarged scale, of the needle-guide and a circuit-closer employed therewith.

The reference-numeral 1. designates the upper portion of a tower of skeleton construction adapted to be carried by a submarine boat and of sufficient height to project above the surface of the water after the boat is submerged. The tower 1 is provided With oppositely-disposed cleats 2 to support a box or casing 3, containing a part of the mechanism employed in connection with the com-z pass.

Secured to the top of the tower is a bowl 4, constituting the supporting-base of the compass and having its upper surface centrally countersunk or recessed to provide a charnber 5 and a contracted vertical passage 6. The base 4 is also vformed with an inclined ypassage l7, leading from the chamber 5 through the adjacent side of the base, and at each side of the central passage 6 is formed a contracted passage 8. Y

Resting upon the top of the base 4 is a frame comprising inwardly-inclined standards 9, connected at their upperends by a plate 10, surmounted by a knob 11, centrally bored and screw-threaded for thepassage of a rod 1,2, the lower end of which is pointed to adapt it to serve as the upper pivot for the needle 13 of the compass. The lower-pivotrod 14for the needle extends upward through a tube 6, located within the central passage ,6, and through the chamber 5, the lower portion of saidbase having a threaded passageway 1,5 for the threaded ,end of the said rod 14. Y The upper end of this rod is pointed to adapt it to coact with the upper pivot-rod 12, and the pointed ends ,of these .pivot-rods are preferably jeweled to provide the rev' quired bearing for the needle.

Above the needle 13 and parallel thereto is a disk 16, supported upon brackets '17,

projecting inwardly from the l'standards .9'

and having a central opening 18, through which the upper pivot-rod 12 passes.l

The disk 16 and the standards are of metal, and upon said disk is a binding-post 19 to secure electrical conductor 20, connected to one-side of a battery. (Not shown.) The disk 16 is insulated from the brackets 17 and standards 9.

Extending through an opening in the needle 13 is a rod 21, serving as a' circuit-closer and carrying at its upper end a buifer-spring arran ed in the form of a loop 22. The cir- Icuit-c oser 21 also extends vthrough the ver ticallyalined hubs 23 of a guide comprising two rectangular frames 24', disposed at right angles to each other, providing a light and effective guide-frame- The ro'd 21 is insulated from the needle 13 and from the'hubs of the guide-frame-by bushings of noncon `non-conducting material, `having a central opening for the passage of the lower pivotl'rod 14 and carrying on its upper surface a series of segments 273V of conducting material, serving as electrical'contact-points and each `having a separate electrical connection, as shown at 28, with an annunciator or indicator carried on the submerged boat.

From

the under side of the disk 26 de end two pari allel rods 29, extending throu'g the passages -`8 of the base' and connected at their lower ends by a cross-rod 30, from which depends a rod 31, carrying an armature 32, arranged within the boxer casingv 3. YTwo electromagnetsB3v are secured within the boi; 3 above the armature 32. The upward iiiovenient of the rod 31 is limited by a head 3,4, 'formed in the end oi the said rod, and the downward movement ci said roe 3l and the parts attached thereto is limited by a dollar 35 on said rod below the armature.

The circuit-cioser 2 1 and itsguide-trame are shown suspended adjacent to the north end ot the needle; but this location of said parts is not essential, as they may be applied nearA the opposite end of the needle, it de'- s'ired.

The operation of the rnec'haansmY constructed as above described is 'as' follows:

The normal position of the cornmuta'to'r-disk 26 is upon its seat 25, .as shown by the full iines in Fig. 2 but when the operator on the vessel desires to take his bearing he' raises the disk 26 by the electrical means shown for Ithis purpose. To raise the disk by the means shown in Fig. 2, an electrical circuit in which the magnets 33 are' inehided is closed,

` circuitrclose is raised to prevent jarring the Ago needle. A

I would have it understood that the invention is not restricted to the construction shown in the drawings, as it will be apparent, as. has been heretofore .rStated, that other means than those 'shown may be employed for raising and lowering the commutatordisk and that Vother changes and modifications in the construction or relative arran enient of 'arts may be resorted to without eparting iirom the spirit and scope of the` invention.A

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is"

1. The combination with a tower, of a compass supported thereon, a colnmutator supported on the base of the compass, means for raising and lowering said commutator, an

electric circuit including'said conilnutato,

and a circuit-closer carried by the' c'orrpassneedle a'dapted to close a circuit through said commutatdr. l

2.111 a compass, the' combination with a base of a disk supported thereon, a plurality oi contact-points on said disk, having an independent electric connection, means.

for raisin and lowerinfy said disk, a needle supporte above the dish, a circuit-closer carried by said needle, and a contact-plate above said circuit-closer.

3. In a compass, the combination with a base, oi a frame supported'thereon, acommutator-disk on said base, inean's for raising and lowerin said disk, a disk supported within sai aine, pivot-rods supported in vertical aline'ment within said trame, a needle suspended between'said rods, a circuitclosing rod carried by said needle, and a guide-name through which said circuit-closing rod extends.

1i. In a' compass the combination with a tower, ot a base supported thereon, a trarne supported u on said base, a commutatordisk on said ase, a needle supported within said trame, a contact-disk above saidneedlc a circuit-closing rod extending through said needle, a guide-trame for said rod, a contact-spring at the up v'er end or said r'od, and means for' raising an lowering said commutator-disk. l

5. In a compass, the combination with a tower, of a base' sup orted thereon, a traine supported u'on sai base, a commutatorisk on said ese, a needle supported Within the frame, a contact-disk above said needle, a c'irc'u'it-'clo'singrod extendingthrough 'said needle, a guide-frame for said rod, a contactspring at theu'pper end of said rod, and means for raising and lowering said commutator-disk, comprising depending rods extending through the frame, an armature connected to said rods, and an electromagnet.

6. In a compass, the combination with a tower, of a base sup orted thereon', a trame supported u'on sai' base, a commutatordislr on said base, a needle supported within the frame, a contact-disk above said needle,

' a circuit-'closing rod extending through said needle, a guide-frame for said rod, a' contactspring' at the' lupper end of said rod, and means for raising and lowering said commutator'-'disk comprising a bon or casing sup'- v ported by said tower, an electromagnet and an armature' Within said boX, and rod connections between said armature and said cornrniitatorldisk. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. FREDERICK Atenei* srRAssWEG. Witnesses ons H. Ossona,- LFR'E'D W. EMERY.,

ICO

IIO 

